Everything thing was silent in the house, the usual chatter and banters all were gone just few whispers and talks were on going between the people of the house.
It was as if everyone felt the tension in the air even if no one knows what caused it but one look at the birthday girl and all knew.
Gabby takes a deep breath before she walks towards the table where her cake was waiting on for her to be, cut and be, noticed.
Even Gage for once knew the seriousness of the situation and kept his mouth quiet or perhaps the whispers in his ears from Bo hold him back.
"He is not coming" she whispers the words as she stares at the door one last time before she silently stabs on the cake leaving the knife on it as she walks away towards her old room.
Gabriel sighs as he gets up from his chair where he was watching his daughter just as each of his family did.
"Amelia lets have dinner" he finalizes and everyone moves towards the dining table while he walks towards where his daughter went.
"You know when I thought your mother betrayed me that one time; it was one of the darkest moments of my life...
I was so helpless, as the one woman I dared fall for loved someone else and watching her kiss other was just as painful...
However, good thing luck was by my side and the woman I saw with another man was not my wife, yet I still shudder each time my mind drifts towards the past...
"That's what loves does, it leaves you helpless when the one person you thought as your world does not think of you as such" Gabriel sighs as he walks towards where his daughter was sitting on her bed staring at the floor.
"When that boy walked in the house looking like some man from a movie I knew he will one day hold the power to break my daughter's spirit one that I have helped create...
But what I did not knew was that my daughter's spirit was so down that she will let him break her so easily"
"I am not broken dad," she says hoarsely.
"I would to believe that too, this is why I wanted you to choose one of the boys I..."
"I am not going to date anyone of the boys you chose dad so forget it"
"Then why don't you get the boy you chose?" he challenges as he sits beside her.
"I don't know..."
"Even if I let you all believe you have the upper hand I know each of you like the back of my hand...
And I have raised you with these same hands, you love him, right?" he asks and she looks away.
"Are you ashamed of loving him or love itself," he asks next and she sighs.
"What do you want dad?" she groans wanting to be alone.
"I am going to say this just once so you listen carefully, you either cry your heart out tonight for the last time and forget that boy, forever...
Or you stand strong and with everything that I know you are, make him yours. It is either you are in or out, no standing at the door stuck"
"I don't know how to make him mine dad, I would have made him mine if I knew," she cries hugging him.
"Easy, let him know, what he is missing when he is away from you, let him crave you as if you are his last breath and in doing so first you have to take his breath away...
Let him come to you but this time you will not open your doors wide open, let him break it to get in...
Make him realize the meaning behind his nickname, and for once let him act like you are precious to him" her father smiles as he kisses on her forehead.
"Happy born day baby girl, it's time you actually shine" he wishes before he walks out of the door before he stops and turns to smiles at her.
"I will skin you alive if you are not on that table for dinner one your mother prepared with love," he warns before finally walking out.
*******
"You got any Taylor's song related to my situation?" Gabby asks as she walks inside of her apartment with Bo.
"Yeah, the moment I knew" she replies as she checks her phone before playing the song.
"Wow, she knows what we all go through"
"That's because she has been through the same things, I will go change" Bo smiles as she passes the phone to Gabby and walks towards her room.
Gabby sits at the couch in darkness, listening to the song playing before she starts to sing.
"There was one thing missing and that was the moment I knew," she whispers in dark.
The ring on her phone makes her jump, startled. Pulling her phone out she checks the caller only to freeze as Rare's name keeps on blinking at her.
She goes to cut the line before thinking better of it and closes the song as she receives the call.
"Come out, I am out of your apartment" he states at once and it takes her a second to realize what he meant.
Slowly walking towards the window, she pulls the curtains to watch him standing next to his car on his phone.
"I am not home" she replies as she watches him runs his hands through his hair.
"Where are you then?"
"It's late you should go back home"
"Where are you?" he demands frustrated.
"You would not have to ask it if you had just made the effort to join me"
"I know just tell me where you are and we can celebrate again I even got you your favorite cake"
"I already ate too much there is not room for any"
"Please precious just let me wish you once, just once" he pleads as he paces back and forth on the parking lot.
"You are late"
"I still got few minutes in my hand" he sighs and she stays silent.
"Where were you?" she asks next as she keeps on staring at him through his window.
"Precious please just tell me where you are"
"Who were you with Rare?" she questions and she watches as he throws his head back and takes a deep breath.
"I had dinner with Melissa's parents," he confesses and Gabby cuts the line.
She stares out as he kicks the stone away before running his hands on his hair once again before dialing her number she stares at her hand as her phone rings so she picks it up again.
"I am sorry I did not make it just tell me where you are please"
"I am sorry too but the time slipped away right through your hands, goodbye Rare. I am done" she cuts the line once again before she switches her phone off.
She keeps on staring out of the window and her tears starts to roll down her eyes as she watches him throw the cake away from his car in anger before punching on the door of his car cursing.
"Come on" Bo whispers as she holds her shoulder pulling her away from the window.
*******
"Now that my ship has sunk badly, we need to go through other options," Bo comments as she looks around the room.
"What are you looking for?"
"The profiles of the men you father gave you, I am sure we can always find someone to patch you up to" she mumbles as she keeps on checking on the drawers.
"I am no dating anyone Bo"
"No way am I letting you be alone without having at least one great love story to be left behind for our grandkids to be shared with" she states strictly.
"I don't even remember where I kept it and anyway to have grandkids I need to get their grandfather"
"That is what I am talking about we will just..."
"Not we but I, I will just have to make Rare fall on his knees for me before I punch him few times" Gabby smiles at her friend who stands still for a second before her eyes widens.
"Gabby"
"Mission capture Rare, begins from here on" she grins evilly and Bo squeals.
"Oh my God and she is back, people my ship is back" she yells as she jumps up and down before hugging Gabby.
"Melissa is not going to have him this time, I let her have him one too many times" she vows it to her own self.
*******
Gabby wakes up with a new hope and a new plan, she is going to give everything within her for this one time until she is completely broken and then and only then will she give up on him.
"What's your plan?" Bo asks as she walks out brushing her teeth.
"It all depends on him actually"
"What? Hey I woke up this early for some action" she spits out the paste glaring at her friend.
"Bo, I cannot just go jump on him and start humping," she groans walking towards the kitchen.
"Oh, girl you can hump him all you want oh yeah" Bo starts to hump on air while Gabby laughs.
"Oh yes, give it to me oh yes Rare" Bo starts to moan teasing her friend.
"Shut up Bo, you are crazy"
"Oh, fuck yes," Bo continues to hump moaning.
"What the hell is going on here?" Gage asks as he enters the room and Bo stops at what she was doing.
"Shit, I am not ready," she curses as she runs towards her room.
"Why the hell was she moving her ass and hips like that?" Gage asks as he closes the door before making his way towards his sister.
"Nothing, what are you doing here?" she asks as she offers him a coffee.
"Just wanted to check on you" he confesses as he walks towards her and kisses on her forehead.
Gabby stiffens and stands still in shock at what happened.
*******
"Are you okay?" he asks as he rubs her arms staring at her concerned.
"What do you want?" Gabby asks pushing away from him.
"Nothing, I was just worried about you" he frowns as she keeps on moving away from him.
"Fuck off Gage never ever do that ever again, you scared me, are you dying?" she asks as she stares at him in doubt.
"I was just worried, you looked sad last night and it was the worst night in the house everyone seemed worried" he sighs as he pulls out something from his jacket.
"What is it?" she asks as she stares at his hand in doubt.
"Your birthday gift you did not even open single one gift so I took mine back to give you now, open it" he nods his head.
"If this is some type of prank I will cut your dick off," she threatens as she slowly pulls the ribbon.
"So?" he asks as he stares at her face for some sort of emotion.
"Gage, this, this...are you on drugs?" she asks as she stares at her hand in shock.
"Well, the last time I was out of town I went to this market and as soon as saw this I thought of you so" he rubs the back of his head.
"If you ever tell anyone about this I will kill you, come here," she commands as she hugs her brother thanking him for the gift.
"I don't like to see you sad Gabby, it's more fun when you react when I tease so don't be sad anymore" he sighs as he pulls the bracelet from the box and helps her to wear it.
"I will try to collect many more charms for you" he grins as he touches the heart locket hanging on it.
"Thanks Gage, I never knew you could be so sweet to me" she smiles as she touches her bracelet.
"Well I never knew you could be so sad so, anyway if someone is annoying you do tell me I can kick their ass" he grins before turning around just as Bo walks out in a hurry.
"Okay, I am done" she smiles buttoning her blazer.
"Okay, got to go now, see you later" Gage ruffles her hair before walking out of the door.
"Is it just me or you two just smiled at each other?" Bo asks as she hurries to pull on her shoes.
"It's just us" Gabby waves her hand before staring at the heart shape hanging as a charm.
"Yes, it's time" she sighs before getting back to make herself some breakfast.
*******
The jiggle in the doorknob pulls Gabby's concentration as she frowns before the door unlocks and opens. She stands still just as the man at the door as both of them come face to face.
"I saw Gage and Bo walk out so I thought you were in" Rare speaks as he slowly walks inside and Gabby says nothing just stares at him.
"I was waiting for you out last night, you said you were not here but I was here until midnight, so when did you arrive?" he asks as he makes his way towards her carefully.
"How was the party, did you get tons of gifts I mean were they to your liking?" he asks as he finally stands in front of her.
"Why are you here?" she asks him instead.
"To celebrate..."
"My birthday was yesterday and you missed it" she sighs as she turns her back to him.
"But we can always..."
"I am not in the mood Rare, go away," she states as picks up the cups from the table.
"No, it's not," he states as he rush to walk in front of her before he shows his phone.
"See it's still your birthday" he smiles hopefully her way but she just shakes her head.
"Changing the time in your phone will not make me jump happily Rare, the truth remains the same I am not as important to you as I once was...
And I get it, I got it last night loud and clear, so go back home to Melissa I am sure you have lots of things to be doing together as couples, seeing how you are going to get married soon"
"Just let me make it up to you, this once"
"Go ahead, wish me and get it done with, go," she asks as she puts the cups back on the table.
Ricardo opens and closes him mouth few times, as he wants to tell her something but it does not happen, he could not speak a word.
"See, here deep inside here you know what you did so do not act as if you can make up to it" she states as she points at the place where his heart lies.
"What is this?" he frowns as he holds her wrists and touches the bracelet.
"None of you concern," she snaps pulling her hands away.
"Is that a heart charm?" he asks as he tries to hold her wrists but she just pulls away once again.
"Go away"
"Who gave you that?" he demands as he wraps his arms around her waist pulling her to him.
"I don't remember ever having to answer you about anything," she counters fighting in his arms but he pulls her closer to his chest.
"Was there someone else except your family at the party last night?" he asks as he holds her wrists and glares at the bracelet.
"You would have known if you had tried to show up" she bites on his hand hard and he hisses pulling letting go of her wrist.
"Who gave it to you?" he grits through his teeth.
"My brother" she snaps back as she pushes him away from her.
"And don't you dare man handle me ever again, I am not your property" she shouts as she moves away from him.
"You are mine," he shouts before running his hands through his hair.
*******
"Well you sure have a way to show it" she replies before he walks towards her once again and pulling her in his arms.
"I am sorry precious, I did not mean to miss it I thought I had time but that bloody dinner went for too long" he groans as he buries his head in her shoulder.
"Well at least you made me realize I am nothing more than your friend and I can never be more than that," she states making him groans.
"You know I care about you, please do not stay mad at me"
"What were you doing that made you so busy you could not answer your own phone?" she asks him.
"I had some really important things I need to handle"
"Like what?"
"Just things I cannot talk with you"
"You don't talk to me at all these days," she points out.
"Its business related, am I forgiven?" he asks hopefully once again.
"Never"
"Precious, I really was busy"
"With what, you don't have time for me"
"I do now, just tell me how you want to spend your day and I am all yours" he grins at her way.
"No phone calls"
"No"
"Not ignoring me?"
"Never"
"Just the two of us"
"Always"
"You mean all day long with me, whatever I want to do?" she asks and he nods his head eagerly.
"Okay, let me go get dressed" she smiles as she walks towards her room with a grin of victory on her face.
*******
Katie laughs at what Bo said before they start to talk about Gabby's birthday party while Gabby was once again with Ricardo on lunch date, as they like to refer.
"I so feel they are going to marry someday" Bo cheers as she takes a deep breath.
"Yeah, they are so cute together, but hopefully he will not date someone else after his school ends. He does not have much time as high schoolers before college days starts...
I am scared someone else will grab him away" Katie sighs.
"Grab who away?" Melissa asks as she joins the girls at the table.
"Ricardo, he is such a sweetheart and I hope he does not date someone else when he goes to college," Katie replies before she munches on the burger she got.
"What's so wrong if he dates anyone? I mean there are..."
"Oh, he is here" Bo shakes Katie's arm in excitement as both of them looks at the couple entering.
Melissa frowns at the man entering before she focuses on the table ignoring the giggling girls.
"Oh, he is so handsome" Katie swoons as both she and Bo, giggles.
Melissa stands up at once from her seat banging her hands on the table that startles the girl and before they could ask her, what it was she walks away from the group making her way directly towards Ricardo and Gabby.
Ricardo was busy listening to what Gabby was saying that he does not even see the girl walking towards him and before anyone could react, he feels someone pulling him before a wet lip crash on to him.
Gabby frowns as she looks at her side to find Ricardo and Melissa kissing she grabs Melissa's shoulder and pulls the girl away at once.
"What the fuck do you think you are doing?" she shouts at the girl.
"Kissing my boyfriend is not a crime" Melissa scoffs before she wraps her arm around Ricardo.
"Boyfriend?" Gabby asks with narrow eyes as she turns towards Ricardo for answers.
"Let's go" Ricardo grumbles as he holds Melissa's arms dragging the girl away.
"Are you okay?" Bo asks as she stands in front of Gabby who stares to where Ricardo walked with Melissa.
"Yeah, Bitch could have waited until I finished telling him my story" Gabby sighs before walking towards their usual seats.
"Umm, so you are okay about them? I mean I sure am not," Bo asks sitting beside Gabby.
"Why would I mind if he has a girlfriend?" she shrugs her shoulders.
"You are so weird," Bo grumbles.
"I never knew Melissa knew Ricardo or if they were in relation," Katie states as she turns to face her sister.
"That's not important, what's important is dad is making all of us go on an early vacation" Gabby sighs as she bangs her head on the table.
"Early vacation?"
"Yeah, he says we needs more family bonding time but I hate Gage he gets on my nerve" she whines before all of them starts to talk about Gabby's unwanted vacation forgetting all about the kiss between Ricardo and Melissa.
*******
"So, guess this is it?" Gabby sighs as she watches Ricardo walk her way.
"Yeah now no more football" he states as he let her check his graduation certificate.
"Have you thought about which college you are going to join?" she asks him.
"It's already been fixed"
"What are you going to study?"
"Business administration, as I said it's already been set. So, we cannot hang out now, are you sad?" he asks as he throws his graduation gown her way.
"Yeah now I have to pay for my own lunch," she sighs folding his gown and giving it back to him.
"Keep it I don't have a use of it anymore" he waves his hand.
"But what will I do with it?" she asks him.
"Wear it as night dress" he shrugs his shoulder before wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer to him.
"Smile precious" he commands but she stares at him in confusion just as he clicks the picture of them in his phone.
"Hey I was not ready," she shouts as she tries to take the phone but he puts it back inside of his pocket.
"Whatever, you just get one click," he states before sighing as he stares in front of him.
"Rick, I cannot believe you would give me the wrong time and venue for your graduation if it was not for Mel I would have missed it" his mother shouts as she stands in front of him.
"Well too bad you missed it anyway" Gabby cannot help but comment.
"And who might you be?"
"No one let's go home I am hungry," Ricardo states as he turns his mother around pushing her ahead of him.
"Rick who is she?" his mother demands but he just keeps pushing her away from Gabby as he turns around to nod her way.
"But" Gabby shouts as she shows his certificate that he left with her.
"Give it back next time," he shouts as he walks away with his mother.
*******
"Miss me" Ricardo commands as he pulls his bag out of the car.
"You miss me too," she commands back but he just shrugs his shoulders.
"I won't be in contact with you so don't cry"
"As if" she scoffs following him towards the entrance of the airport.
"Also, don't date anyone...high school relation does not last long" he states and she laughs.
"Oh yeah what about you and Mel then?" she teases him.
"Why...are you jealous?" he asks her as he pulls out his passport.
"As if...I don't see what is there in Mel for me to be jealous of her"
"Good jealousy does not suit you anyway"
"See you someday" he smiles as he says his goodbye to her.
"It was nice knowing you Rare; just don't change when you walk in adulthood"
"Few years and you will too walk into it but whatever; it was nice meeting you precious...
Stay cool," he grins her way before he walks away from her.
"And you...well just stay" she shouts at him.
Ricardo stops as he slowly turns around to face her at her words before one of his guard taps on his shoulder asking him to hurry.
"Goodbye Precious" he nods once before he finally walks away.
*******
"I cannot believe you are actually at the same hostel my brother is" Gabby grins as she walks around Ricardo's room.
"Yeah, I have seen him few times"
"Why did you not call me?"
"I have been busy"
"Your place is cooler than my brother's, also big"
"I don't have a roommate"
"That's so cool"
"So why are you here?" he asks as he sits on his bed.
"I just found out I am adopted" she sighs as she goes to sit on the bed besides him.
"Who was it...your brother?" he asks as he lies down on the bed.
"Dad said yes but now he says no. He just said so because he was irritated with me," she pouts as she too follows lying beside him before she turns sideways facing him.
"I don't know how anyone can get irritated with you, you are fun" he smiles as he too lies sideways before slowly putting his palm on her cheek and rubbing it.
"See, rare right there" she grins making him smile.
"I missed you," he finally confesses as he pulls her face closer to him.
"I missed you too, as there was no one around to share my thoughts with" she sighs as her palm rests on his chest.
"Gabby, you in" Damon's voice makes them jump away from each other and Ricardo gets up as he checks on her before walking to open the door.
"Where is my sister, you bastard?" Damon asks grabbing Ricardo's collar.
"Who you calling bastard he is my best friend now let go of him" Gabby glares at her brother before she pushes him away.
"Come on, you are going to my room" Damon glares at his sister but she refuses.
"No, I am staying with Rare your room is small and sleeping with Rare sounds much better than you two idiots"
"Gabby"
"No, I am sad and you need to do what I request" she blackmails him.
"I am not letting you stay with him Gabby and that's final"
"I will tell uncle Damien you have drugs under your bed also you have been slutting your way to pass the semester"
"Fucking hell how did she know that?" Throne gapes at Gabby before Damon hits the back of his head
"Gabby shut up and move your ass" Damon growls before she is pushed behind Ricardo.
"Fuck off Damon, she stays in" he growls as he faces Damon.
"She is my sister not yours"
"Not planning to have her as one," Ricardo counters.
Both of them stares down at each other no one backing away from each other.
"Can I trust you with her then?"
"No" Ricardo smirks and Damon narrows his eyes.
"Call me when you decide to go back home" he speaks with Gabby before turning his back and walking away.
*******
"Oh my God, this is our first sleepover" Gabby grins as she jumps on the bed.
"Yeah; you don't snore do you?" he asks as he shuts the door before walking towards the bed.
"Don't know never heard myself while asleep so"
"I will throw you out if you do" he warns getting in the bed before he shuts the lights.
"Rare"
"Hmm"
"It tickles," she laughs getting away from his hold.
"It does not," he grumbles pulling her closer to his body.
"Rare, pull your hands from inside my shirt" she giggles as she pushes his hands away from around her waist.
"Fine" he sighs as he pulls his hand away from her naked skin before wrapping his arms around her covered waist.
"Is it fine now?" he asks as he nuzzles her hair with his face.
"Umm yeah" she shifts a bit in his hold, as she was not used to it.
"Don't move," he growls breathing at the back of her ear shell.
"I have never slept with anyone like this so"
"I am not anyone," he grumbles as he nips on her ear shell.
"Oh okay" she shudders before holding onto the arm that was around her before trying to fall asleep for the first time in his arms.
*******
"Won't they notice me?" Gabby whispers as she looks around Ricardo's classroom.
"Even if they do, they will not say anything, just relax"
"So, this is what it's like to go to college"
"Nothing's great, you will someday seat in here" he states bored.
"I don't think I want to go to college"
"Why?"
"Just don't feel like"
"Yeah education will just ruin you" he shrugs his shoulders before slipping a bit on his seat just as the students fills in the room.
"Oh, the class has begun" she whisper yells clapping her hands in excitement.
Gabby pushes Ricardo's hand away as he keeps on pulling her hair, she glares his way before getting back on to taking few notes to feel like a college student.
Ricardo runs a finger at the side of her cheek before touching her hair. He smiles when she glares his way before he caresses her ear running his forefinger and thumb at her earlobe.
"Rare" she hisses glaring at her but he just stares at her with a ghost of a smile.
He does not stop his touching as he rests his elbow on the desk and puts his face on his palm staring at her.
Running his thumb at her jaw, he slowly touches her lower lip rubbing it a bit before she bites on his thumb in anger making him hiss and finally pull away.
With a chuckle, he sucks on his thumb before staring at her while she keeps on taking notes at what the professor writes down on the board and all the while, he rubs on his lower lip not taking his eyes off her.
*******
"Can you not stay?" Ricardo asks as he holds her bag on his back.
"Can't mom have been crying for me to come back and dad hates when she cries, so he is coming to pick me up" she sighs as she takes her bag away from him.
"Call me once you reach home"
"Are you not going to see me off?" she asks when he does not attempt to follow her.
"No, I am not; I will see you back at home"
"Are you going to come back?" she asks wide eyes.
"Yeah, you make sure your entire schedule is booked for me" he warns her before walking away.
"Why do you always have to walk away from me?" she shouts at him.
"Because I do not like the idea of you walking away from me," he replies as he waves his hands without turning her way and she smiles shaking her head at what he said.